Disney's The Lion King - Lyceum Theatre

SYNOPSIS

Disney's The Lion King

Few West End musicals match Disney's The Lion King for its visual drama. The breathtaking stage sets that burst into life with imagery and clever lighting, are only surpassed by the spectacular costumes that splash colour around the stage. Some 40 actors leap and whirl, and use their costumes to tell a compelling story, which is driven along by a score of powerful songs from Elton John and Tim Rice. Without a doubt, this is an epic musical that captures the imagination, and thrills generations of adults and children alike.

Disney's The Lion King is designed and directed by Julie Taymor. Julie worked with Disney Theatrical to bring The Lion King to stage as an adaptation of Disney's 1994 animated film of the same name. Her creation made it to Broadway in July 1997, where it became an instant success. It won several prestigious Tony Awards in 1998, including Best Musical, Best Costume Design of a Musical, and Best Scenic Design of a Musical. The show then debuted in London's West End at the 2,000-seat Lyceum Theatre on 19 October, 1999 -- the same venue at which the show plays today.

Since 1997 Disney's The Lion King has been produced in cities around the world, including Paris, Tokyo and Sydney. In June 2007 the show premiered in Johannesburg, South Africa -- the first production to take place on the African continent.

The Story of the Lion King Musical

Disney's The Lion King Musical opens to Elton John's moving 'The Circle of Life'. It sees the wise baboon, Rafiki, hold up heir-to-the-throne Simba to a gathering of animals at Pride Rock - the seat of power in the Pride Lands - and home to King Mufasa and Queen Sarabi. Through the first part of the musical we watch Simba in his youth. He befriends Nala, a young lioness, and we see them explore beyond the Pride Lands into Scar's territory.

Scar is Simba's uncle. He is a schemer and wants to replace Mufasa as the King at Pride Rock. Scar hatches a plan that sees the impressionable Simba put in danger when wildebeest stampede in a gorge. Alerted by Scar to the danger, Mufasa attempts to rescue Simba from the stampede, and in doing so is trampled to death.

Scar lays the blame for Mufasa's death on Simba, and tells Simba to run away and never come back. Simba does run, leaving Scar to take control of the Pride Lands.

Act II sees Simba out in the jungle growing into adulthood with Timon (a meerkat) and Pumba (a warthog). Timon and Pumba found Simba in the desert after he ran from the gorge. They took him to their home and introduced him to their carefree life and their signature song 'Hakuna Matata'.

Years pass until the fateful reunion of Simba and Nala when Simba saves Pumba from the lioness's long distance hunt. On recognising Simba, Nala tells him of Scar's dictatorship at Pride Rock, and how there is no food left in the Pride Lands. She persuades Simba to return to the Pride Lands and to challenge Scar for control.

On Simba's return, Scar reveals to his subjects that Simba caused Mufasa's death. Simba, who thinks it is true, confesses as much to Nala and Sarabi. Scar then goes in for the kill and attempts to force Simba off the edge of Pride Rock to the ground below. In doing so he whispers to Simba the truth - that Scar set up Mufasa's death. This fuels Simba to fight back, and he then defeats Scar.